Vice Presidents of The United States Podcast

By Bruce Carlson

Society & Culture History

What's Vice Presidents of The United States Podcast about?

A history of the United States, as told through its vices, the holders of the second-highest office in the land. Bruce Carlson delves into the lives of the individuals who have achieved the second office of American government. Learn history, and hear some great stories.

Download our free app to listen on your phone

LAST EPISODE

"Don't Call Me Willie" - Al...

09.09.2020

Hog caller and stump speaker Alben Barkley defied all expectations. The son of a tobacco farmer with little money to spare became Vice President and sometimes, a contender for President. Senator and Majority Leader he prospered from his ability to ...

Vice Presidents of The United States Podcast episodes:

09.09.2020 "Don't Call Me Willie" - Alben Barkley, Truman's Vice President Hog caller and stump speaker Alben Barkley defied all expectations. The son of a tobacco farmer with little money to spare became Vice President and sometimes, a contender for President. Senator and Majority Leader he prospered from his ability to ...
05.25.2020 Young Cheney Dick Cheney is known as one of the most powerful Vice Presidents. In this podcast, we look at the years before he became Veep, and how he almost threw his career away.
04.16.2020 Calvin Coolidge Became Somebody Nobody would have expected local pol and newbie governor Cal Coolidge to become Vice President two years before the election of 1920. Then a calamity happened, that made him the symbol of normalcy.
04.15.2020 Show Me the Money: Levi Morton Rich, popular and diplomatic, Levi Parsons Morton was a banker-turned politician who had a knack for making connections and a penchant for raising money. Serving under Benjamin Harrison. He would get along with the former General, but he would disappoint ...
04.10.2020 One Day in the Vice Presidency of George H.W. Bush George H.W. Bush's Vice Presidency was not spectacular; but arguably its most decisive event happened in its first months. We discuss the day President Reagan was shot on this podcast.
01.06.2020 Thomas Marshall - A Sense of Humor as A Weapon Wilson's Vice President prospered through his folksy Indiana charm and humor and his status as a governor of a swing state. But did his humor prevent him from a most serious role?
08.21.2019 Hannibal Hamlin Stood Up When his name was added to the ticket in 1860, Hannibal Hamlin's Lincoln's first vice-president was pleased to see a supportive sign that combined the two names of the candidates and read "Abrahamlicon." The campaign sign however, would not reflect ...
05.18.2019 Dancing with John Tyler Born to be best, he was never a great President. But he did make history. And the Theodore Roosevelts and Lyndon Johnsons of history owed him a thank you. We talk about the man on the ticket with William Henry ...
12.23.2018 The Musician-Vice President: Charles G. Dawes Banker, Comptroller, Campaign Manager and Nobel Peace Prize Winner Charles G. Dawes came to the Vice Presidency with many achievements already in hand. He cast a shadow over his President, Calvin Coolidge, and confronted the Senate. That didn't endear him ...
12.16.2018 The Guy Before Roosevelt A look at Garret Hobart, William McKinley's first Vice President who would be so influential and charming that he would sometimes be called the Assistant Vice President. Convincing the President to go to war, taking care of Cabinet squabbles and ...
12.08.2018 Kennedy Runs for Vice President The story of John F. Kennedy's little-known and very short-lived run for Vice President of The United States. It lasted a few hours, but it's possible that instead of the Presidency, Kennedy might have been the 38th Vice president of ...
11.30.2018 Dallas Poor George M. Dallas. Not only did he have to see his rival James Buchanan rise to the Presidency, but he also may really not lay true claim to the thing he's known for, the naming of the Texas city ...
11.23.2018 Gerald Ford's Wait and See Vice Presidency A bit about Gerald Ford's brief Vice Presidency, where he took over from Spiro Agnew. He spent his time balancing between supporting Nixon during the Watergate crisis and supporting Watergate critics. He also kept him self busy, and away from ...
11.18.2018 45 Days-William Rufus King's Short Vice Presidency and Impactful Life Franklin Pierce's Vice President died in office before he reached Washington D.C. to serve. But his prior career had been one of a respected moderate Southerner willing to compromise. That didn't stop him from challenging Henry Clay to a duel ...
11.11.2018 Sunny Jim: James Schoolcraft Sherman Years before Dick Cheney, a VP with his own politics and power base would emerge. A brake to Taft's progressive tendencies and a token to conservative Old Guard Republicans, James Schoolcraft Sherman may have had more influence over the inexperienced ...
11.11.2018 Henry Wallace, Harry Truman and the Axe That Changed History Henry Wallace was Vice President and wanted to stay Vice President. But the bosses wanted Harry. Even though, Harry didn't know he was up for the job. And even though, no one knew who FDR truly wanted. It's the story ...
10.28.2018 The Miserable Daniel D. Tompkins? Monroe's Vice President is known for maybe two things. A park in the East Village of New York City, and that he was a drunk. Yet, as we discuss with Tim Pearson, the author of Second Fiddle, The Strange, Sick, ...
10.28.2018 Why Lyndon Johnson Became Vice President Lyndon Johnson was a powerful man - a mover and shaker in Washington who had his own car phone. He worked directly with the President of The United States, and many people thought he could be President . Then he ...
10.26.2018 Spiro Agnew's Fear The only Vice President to resign the office voluntarily is a much more interesting character than just that fact. From a local politico to second-highest office in the land in five years, Agnew took an important role as Nixon's Nixon, ...
10.26.2018 Who Is William Wheeler? As a Vice President serving under an obscure President, Wheeler is not a common name in history. In fact, his own President Rutherford B. Hayes had to ask the question "Who is William Wheeler?" when his name was in consideration. ...